GLAAD - misinformationhttp://www.glaad.org/tags/misinformation
enGLAAD and GMHC Call on NYC Dept. of Health to Pull Harmful PSAhttp://www.glaad.org/2010/12/14/glaad-and-gmhc-call-on-nyc-dept-of-health-to-pull-harmful-psa
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/AIDS_0.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-15897" title="AIDS_0" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/AIDS_0-300x213.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="213" /></a>GLAAD and <a href="http://www.gmhc.org/" target="_blank">GMHC</a>, the nation’s oldest HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy provider, yesterday called on the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to pull a sensationalistic and stigmatizing television public service announcement aimed at gay and bisexual men.</p>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0ANiu3YdJg&amp;feature=player_embedded" target="_blank">The PSA,</a> which is intended to encourage condom usage among gay and bisexual men, claims that those with HIV face a higher risk of bone loss, dementia, and anal cancer. While older adults living with HIV may be at greater risk of these conditions, the PSA creates a grim picture of what it is like to live with HIV that could further stigmatize HIV/AIDS, as well as gay and bisexual men.</p>
<p>“We know from our longstanding HIV prevention work that portraying gay and bisexual men as dispensing diseases is counterproductive,“ said Marjorie Hill, PhD, GMHC’s Chief Executive Officer. “Studies have shown that using scare tactics is not effective. Including gay men’s input, while recognizing their strength and resiliency, in the creation of HIV prevention education is effective. Gay men are part of the prevention solution, not the problem.”</p>
<p>Both GLAAD and GMHC have reached out to the department to demand that the commercial be pulled and to offer assistance with framing the conversation around HIV/AIDS more accurately.</p>
<p>“While it’s extremely important that we continue to educate New Yorkers about HIV/AIDS prevention, the sensationalized nature of the commercial, including its <a href="http://www.glaad.org/page.aspx?pid=1539" target="_blank">tabloid-like fear tactics</a>, misses the mark in fairly and accurately representing what it’s like to live with HIV/AIDS,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “It’s our hope that the department will work with us to create a PSA that promotes safety and solutions, rather than <a href="http://glaadblog.org/2010/12/01/after-25-years-glaad-continues-to-monitor-aids-related-defamation/" target="_blank">stigma and stereotype."</a></p>
<p>In an interview with the <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2010/12/13/gay-groups-blast-city-sponsored-hiv-ad/" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal</a>, a department spokesperson confirmed that the department would not pull the PSA saying: “In developing this video spot, we tested various approaches in focus groups. The spot was informed by that process and by lessons learned from our successful anti-smoking efforts. It was also carefully vetted for technical accuracy.”</p>
<p>The department also said that it "tested various approaches in focus groups,” and that “the spot was informed by that process and by lessons learned from our successful anti-smoking efforts. "</p>
<p>GLAAD is continuing to reach out to the department to highlight the problematic and harmful elements of the PSA. We are also working to raise visibility and illustrate the concrete harms of inaccurate depictions of gay and bisexual men and HIV/AIDS.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">December 14, 2010</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/people-color">People of Color</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/local-and-regional-news">Local and Regional News</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/aids">AIDS</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/defamation">Defamation</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/glaad">GLAAD</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/hivaids">HIV/AIDS</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/misinformation">misinformation</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:19:07 +0000daryl33501 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2010/12/14/glaad-and-gmhc-call-on-nyc-dept-of-health-to-pull-harmful-psa#commentsReporting on So-Called “Ex-Gay” Activists Requires Extra Diligencehttp://www.glaad.org/2008/10/20/reporting-on-so-called-%25e2%2580%259cex-gay%25e2%2580%259d-activists-requires-extra-diligence
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>The Times UK recently had a fair, accurate and mostly <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4893735.ece" target="_blank">well-researched story</a> about the harms that result from the extreme practices of so-called "ex-gay" activists.</p>
<p>The reporter, Ruth Gledhill, offered a detailed portrait of the so-called "ex-gay" industry by registering for an "Exodus boot camp" as a participant and attending "workshops" for all six days, resulting in a thorough story that effectively steered clear of misleading terminology. </p>
<!--more--><p><a href="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/timesonlineuk_top_feature.png"><img class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3225" title="timesonlineuk_top_feature" src="http://glaadblog.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/timesonlineuk_top_feature.png" alt="" width="182" height="166" /></a>Gledhill treated the subjects of her story with respect and dignity, while diligently exposing these anti-gay activists' reliance on preposterous <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article4893735.ece" target="_blank">claims and methods</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p>"Each evening, a roll-call of 'former homosexuals' hold up their husbands and wives like kitemarks of their newfound heterosexuality. We are told repeatedly that marriage is evidence of healing. Stereotypes are the ex-gay currency, and the heterosexual ideal is practically ringed by a white picket fence. Christine Sneeringer, the compere, jokes that her recovery is going so well that she has given up car mechanics."</p></blockquote>
<p>Although the story examines Gledhill's experience while attending one of these "camps," she goes outside of the "camp" to provide the perspectives of advocates like Peterson Toscano and Wayne Besen, who have condemned the practices of so-called "ex-gay" organizations like Exodus.</p>
<p>The scientific consensus by medical and mental health authorities is that sexual orientation is neither voluntary nor changeable and that attempts to turn gay people straight are quite harmful. Gledhill exposes in heart wrenching detail the psychological harms these practices have on all of the "camp's" attendees, including teenage participants forced to attend:</p>
<blockquote><p>"A boy of no more than 16 steps up, hanging his head. When he returns from the stage to the sound of applause, his stony-faced father nods in approval. His mother weeps."</p></blockquote>
<p>Unfortunately, even responsible journalists can fall into traps when covering the so-called "ex-gay" industry. Toward the end of the article, an Exodus spokesperson presented discredited and questionable research as fact, without Gledhill calling the information into question:</p>
<blockquote><p>"He pointed out that a 2007 US study indicated that sexual orientation change was possible for some individuals going through religiously mediated programmes such as Exodus, and did not cause psychological harm. He said that 'these conclusions directly contradict the claims of critics ... that change in sexual orientation is impossible and attempting to pursue this alternative is likely to cause depression, anxiety or self-destructive behaviour.'"</p></blockquote>
<p>Throughout the story, Gledhill displayed a keen understanding of the dangerous claims that underly these "camps." With greater diligence, she could have contextualized the activist's claims by pointing out that Ex-Gay Watch <a href="http://www.exgaywatch.com/wp/2007/11/a-critique-of-jones-and-yarhouses-ex-gays-part-1/" target="_blank">exhaustively debunked </a>the "2007 US study," as did <a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_/ai_n27416725" target="_blank">independent news sources</a>.</p>
<p>Additionally, an examination of the 2007 report would have revealed a significant conflict of interest -- the "research" <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=y7d2onWkTkwC&amp;pg=PA127&amp;lpg=PA127&amp;dq=Exodus+funds+Yarhouse+Study&amp;source=web&amp;ots=HIw-qRtKz_&amp;sig=bBibsuNTKd-1x_gCd7zyzNyYhYA&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;oi=book_result&amp;resnum=1&amp;ct=result" target="_blank">cited</a> by the Exodus "spokesperson" was funded by Exodus:</p>
<blockquote><p>"In the end [Exodus] provided approximately $65,000 in funding for direct costs related to the execution of this study."</p></blockquote>
<p><span>Journalists and those who read stories about the so-called "ex-gay" industry must always view any statements from these activists with skepticism. <a href="http://www.unmaskactivists.org/index.htm" target="_blank">Our website</a> “Unmasking So-Called ‘Ex-Gay’ Activists” contains several <a href="http://www.unmaskactivists.org/mediaresources.htm" target="_blank">pointers for journalists</a> on how to avoid giving credibility to the many misleading statements propagated by so-called “ex-gay” activists. </span><br /></p><div align="left">
</div>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">October 20, 2008</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/religion-and-faith">Religion and Faith</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/anti-gay">anti-gay</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/contextualization">contextualization</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/glaad">GLAAD</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/london-times">London Times</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/misinformation">misinformation</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/so-called-ex-gay">So-called ex-gay</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/unmasking">Unmasking</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:14:44 +0000glaad31192 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/2008/10/20/reporting-on-so-called-%25e2%2580%259cex-gay%25e2%2580%259d-activists-requires-extra-diligence#commentsWhy The Game's Call For Rappers To Come Out Of The Closet Is Misguidedhttp://www.glaad.org/blog/why-games-call-rappers-come-out-closet-misguided
<div class="field field-name-field-blog-featured field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><img class="media-image alignleft" height="224" id="2" style="height: 224px; width: 150px; float: left;" width="150" src="http://www.glaad.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Darian%20Aaron%201_0.jpg?itok=ITi5MM1F" alt="" />In a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darian-aaron/the-game-gay-rap_b_959044.html">Huffington Post Black Voices</a> piece, <a href="http://glaadblog.org/2011/06/13/when-love-takes-over-a-celebration-of-gay-couples-of-color/">Darian Aaron</a>, a journalist and <a href="http://glaadblog.org/2011/05/27/glaad-hosts-national-people-of-color-media-institute/">GLAAD National People of Color Media Institute</a> participant, explains why rapper The Game’s call for closeted gay rappers to come out is both welcomed and misguided.</p>
<p>During a recent interview with DJ Vlad, creator of the popular hip-hop video news site VladTV.com, the platinum-selling hip hop artist was asked if he believed a gay rapper could ever reach Eminem’s status. He responded that he only had a problem with rappers who weren’t openly gay. Aaron writes:</p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;">In The Game's call for closeted gay rappers to come out, he fails to address the pervasive and deeply ingrained intolerance among his peers that have caused gay and bisexual rappers to lock the dead bolts on their closet doors. Lyrical hate speech disguised as art is not only accepted, it can be critically applauded. Such is the case of rapper Tyler The Creator, a recent MTV Video Music Awards winner for Best New Artist, who, according to NME Magazine, uses an anti-gay slur and its variants a <a href="http://www.nme.com/news/odd-future/57370" target="_hplink">total of 213 times</a> in his album. This complacence about using such language contributes to a hostile climate, and makes it challenging for gay rappers to come out.</p>
<p>Aaron, who is also the editor of <a href="http://loldarian.com/">Living Out Loud with Darian</a>, goes on to refute the stereotypes and “urban myths” The Game perpetuated in his remarks about HIV/AIDS:</p>
<p style="margin-left:.5in;">The Game's logic around gay men and HIV/AIDS transmission may not have raised any eyebrows during the onset of the epidemic in the early 80s when very little information was known about how the virus was transmitted, but there is no excuse to perpetuate false information, especially to his core audience of African-American young adults who are the hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. AIDS is not a gay disease; it's a people disease.</p>
<p>GLAAD worked closely with Darian Aaron and Huffington Post Black Voices to ensure that the stories of LGBT people of color are elevated in the media. We urge our constituents to leave supportive comments on Huffington Post Black Voices to encourage the inclusion of LGBT voices.</p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pubdate field-type-datetime field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">September 14, 2011</span></div></div></div>
<div class="field field-name-field-issues field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Issues:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/entertainment">Entertainment</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-inline clearfix clearfix">
<div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div>
<ul class="field-items">
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/hip-hop">hip hop</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/stereotypes">stereotypes</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/hivaids">HIV/AIDS</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/misinformation">misinformation</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/coming-out">coming out</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/bisexual">bisexual</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/gay">gay</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/black">black</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/african-american">African American</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/rap">rap</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item even"><a href="/tags/darian-aaron">Darian Aaron</a>, </li>
<li class="field-item odd"><a href="/tags/poc-media-institute">POC Media Institute</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:40:21 +0000kimberleymcleod29755 at http://www.glaad.orghttp://www.glaad.org/blog/why-games-call-rappers-come-out-closet-misguided#comments